Gabriel rode hard; he had to reach the camp by night. He should have left sooner, he shouldn't have lingered. He was a soldier, to fight was his duty, and he did not have time for love. Not when the lives of men and the liberty of a nation depended on him. Minutes blurred into hours, as he sped on without pause. He knew the way well he didn't need to stop. Thoughts of his father mourning for his 'dead' son spurred him on. His respect for his father was indubitable and his admiration was evident, his love for the aging man was unchanged even though he sometimes didn't understand his motives. He had looked up to him as boy wanting to be as just, as caring and as strong as his father always. He knew that raising seven children alone hadn't been easy on his father, and walking out on him after being rescued from red coats by his family hadn't exactly been right. Especially since his father had needed him there, but he was a soldier his father had to understand that. He had understood and had joined him later. They had gone from butting heads on a regular basis to being comrades. By the time he had reached the camp, the sun had already set. He slowed down his pace to a trot riding into the camp looking around for the familiar broad shoulders and dark brown hair, his ears straining for his fathers voice. He glanced around the camp as he dismounted his horse, leading it over to a group of horses and heading over to a tent. He glanced through the flaps of one tent and seeing no one, worked his way down the line until he came to his fathers. He was leaning over a table of plans his hands clasped and pressed against his mouth, and his clothes unkempt. Gabriel eased his way into the tent staring at the man who had fashioned much of his life. The man who had put aside his own feelings and needs for his family, always. Gabriel leaned his rifle against the cot and walked up to Benjamin, stopping a few feet behind his father. Benjamin started, his shoulders tense. Someone was in the room; he could feel it. If it was another general trying to offer vain condolences, then he was just flat out not in the mood. He turned around in his seat; his eyes tired and fought down a gasp. Gabriel? Alive? He got to his feet, his legs shaky, his eyes rapidly filling with tears.

"Gabriel?" he whispered shakily his hand reaching out weakly. Gabriel forced a smile through tear filled eyes. "Is it you? Am I dreaming?" Gabriel took a step toward his father feeling all the love and admiration and respect that he had for the man come pounding onto his shoulders.

"Father." He whispered and launched himself into his fathers arms, clinging to him like a terrified child

"Oh Gabriel, oh my boy!" Benjamin gasped, his tears flowing freely as he cradled the boy in his arms. His son, his pride, his north star, his companion, his joy, his inspiration, in his arms. He wasn't dead, thank the lord.